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The Presidential Bracket 2016: What does Obama think of the Miami Hurricanes?

NEWARK, N.J. — Though another pick President Barack Obama made this week — namely, a new Supreme Court justice — is far more important, you come here for sports. Specifically, the Hurricanes. So if we can make it about the Canes, we will.

So, here: in the final NCAA tournament bracket of his presidency, Obama thinks the Canes are going to the Sweet 16.

President Barack Obama fills out his NCAA bracket in the Map Room at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy, per ESPN)

Partnering with ESPN.com, Obama picked Miami (25-7) to get past Thursday’s first-round matchup in Providence, R.I. against Buffalo (20-14). He believes in the Hurricanes to get past Arizona on Saturday in a potential 3-6 matchup.

But in Obama’s mind, that’s where it ends for Jim Larranaga‘s crew. He says UM will lose to Villanova in the Sweet 16, which is in Louisville. Nova, he feels, will lose to his eventual national champion Kansas.

Obama’s Final Four: Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas A&M (!) and the Jayhawks. His title-game pick is Kansas over UNC.

He correctly picked North Carolina in his first year in office in 2009, but he hasn’t selected the winner in the past six brackets.

…

This is the third time he has picked Kansas to win the title; he also selected the Jayhawks in 2010 and 2011.

“Bill Self owes me,” Obama said in jest while filling out a bracket with ESPN for the eighth straight year at the White House. “I’m putting Kansas in here. Coach, I’m just teasing. I’m not putting pressure on you. But I think the Jayhawks in a squeaker get past UNC.”

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Matt Porter covers the University of Miami’s sports teams for The Palm Beach Post. He previously covered high school, college and pro sports for Post and The Boston Globe. He is a graduate of Emerson College and a native of Gloucester, Mass.